Changeable sign



March 23 1926. 1,577,609

R. N. CHUBB CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed April 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l I BYATTORNEY March 23 1926.

R. N. CHUBB CHANGE-ABLE S I GN Filed April 50, 2 Shets-Sheet 2 i-sfi,Ii. 3.4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented t ller,

' llhlll'll rear CHANGEABLE SIGN.

Application filed April 30, 1924..

To all about it may concern...

Be it known that l, ROWLAND N. Grimm, a subject of Britain, and aresident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in ChangeableSigns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to changeable signs,

and more particularly to that type of signs in which an opaque plate isprovided with a plurality of openings and shutters controlling saidopenings, so that the selective opening of a plurality of shutters willproduce an arrangement of apparent openings in the form of a letter orfigure.

lhe principal object of this invention is the provision of a sign of thecharacter described in which the letters may be formed, or a word may beset up with considerable speed.

My invention also relates to, and has for an object to improve upon, thesign set forth in Letters Patent granted to me on the 15th day of March,1921, No. 1,371,470. In said sign it is necessary, to make a letter, tocarefully rotate the correct shutters a. partial revolution. Suchpartial revolution must be accomplished slowly and carefully in orderthat the shutter is not moved too far. The nature of the means providedfor operating each shutter is not atall conducive to speed. I I

It is therefore another object of my invention to provide a sign of thecharacter described in which an entire lineal formation of openings maybe opened or close by merely sweeping the linger over the face of thesign along the desired line.

Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide a sign of the abovedescribed character in which the intermediate opaque areas, occurringbetween oi 3eni11gs,-maybe of less area than the openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved designs for theopenings whereby said openings will appear in closer and better balancedrelationship.

Other objects of my invention include the provision of means forpreventing accidental opening or closing of the shutters, simplicity ofconstruction, and lower manufacturing costs.

Still other objects and advantages will I appear hereinafter and will bebetter under- Serial No. 710,073.

stood by virtue of the order of their occurrence.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings a preferred embodimentof my invention and several modifications thereof.

in the said drawings,

Figure 1, 1s a face view of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2, isa similar view of afragmentary part of the sign shown inFig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3, is a detail view in section seen on a line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4-, is a face. View of a fragmentary part of a slightly modifiedform 'of the sign shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 5, is a detail view in' sectionthereof seen on a line 5-5 of Fig.4:.

Figure 6, is a face View of a fragmentary part. of a still furthermodified form of the sign shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 7, is a face view of a fragmentary part of another form of myinvention.

Figure 8, is a view in section thereof seen on a line S--8 of Fig. 7.

Figure 9, is a face view of a fragmentary part of another embodiment ofmy invention.

Figure 10, is a view in section thereof seen on a line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11, is a face view of a part of another embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 12, is a view in section thereof seen on a line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

In carrying out my invention in all=of the embodiments illustrated, Iemploy an opaque plate 15, provided with a plurality of apertures 16. ltwill be understood that behind this opaque plate there may be a lightcolored or white background for day reading, and a translucent plate tobe suitably illumined. Such features in changeable signs of thischaracter are well under stood and therefore are not shown or describedherein. g y

The openings are arranged in line formations, and in the embodimentshown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the openings are arranged in aplurality of groups of four so that the group is as nearly rectangularas possible in general outline. In this particular embodiment the groupresembles a Maltese cross which is contracted considerably on thetransverse median line. Each of the openings are segmental and theirside bodiment one shutter only is provided for each group of fouropenings. By means described hereinafter. each shutter is held so thatit may be oscillated about the common center toward. which all the sidemargins out the openings of a group converge... The

shutter occupies only sutficient area. that it ma obscure the group oiopenings when disposed? before it. Therefore each. slnitter in saidembodiment ail-so resembles a. Maltese cross contracted upon thetransverse median line. Generally speaking the rectangular arearepresented by a grouipis about twice as long as it is wide.

Between the openings which form a group, intermediate spaces 21 are;provided. In arranging the segmental openings about their center, theopenings and intermediate space are so proportioned tlrat the maximumarea of opening is provided, while a shntte-r capable ot obscuring theopening may be disposed behind and obscured by the intermediate space.

Each tront plate, at the point representing the center of each, group otopenings. is provided witlr an aperture 23-. Each shutter is providedwith, a corresponding central extension 22, which is extended: into thecorresponding aperture The extension will obviously ride on the, marginsof the aperture and provide for the shutter being oscillatable.

In the said; enibor-lrment a. rear plate 2:) 1s

provided which is formed with, openings,

as in; the ease of the tront plate. The rear plate is held spaced theiiront'plate by depressing the metal oil the front plate inwardly altconcentrated points, such as 15. The two plates may be permanentlyconnected spot Welding the indented metal oi the front plate to thecorresponding metal ot the rear plate. leaving; space 26 well definedand. practically unalterable while providing :11 rigid non-bucklingunit. The space 2.6- existing between the spaced slates isonly slightlygreater than the thick- IIBQSS. oaf a shutter; Each shutter is. providedwith a very slight depression 27, adapted. to register with acorresponding depression 28 the. front plate. when the shutter is inopen position- When the shutter is in closed position said. depressiontherein aligns with. another depression 29. Thus the shutter is heldyieldably in. either fully open position or fully closed position One otthe more salient features of my invention residesv in an. outwardlyextending member 30 carried by each shutter and adapted to be engaged byan object passing over the face of the plate. Preferably this e2; ensionis simply a substantially rectangular integral extension of the of metalof which the shutter is formed. This extension is bent as at 31 at anangle to the blank. This erosion is shown in all of the embodimentsillustrated. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, and now being described, one such member, only, is needed foreach shutter, and therefore a moving object engaging said member may acttoopen or close a group of four openi i-igis. One margin of one of thelarger openings of a group recessed slightly, as at 32,. to receive themember 30- when the shutter is moved to open position.

In the embodiment being described; it will be apparent that all ofmembers 30' are arranged in a plurality of lineal formations. In Fig.one shutter is shown in open position and another in closed position;the latter being indicated by broken lines. In Fig. I I have illustratedonly a portion of a complete sign, or sign plat it being understood thatthe plate illustrated may be of any desired length so that one word,only, or an entire sentence may be written thereon. While I infer thatwords may be written on the sign, it will be apparent that the act ofopening aplurality of shutters an ranged in the formation of a letter isas simple as writing, and the act. is quite similar. In Fig. 1,,1 haveshown the letters H and E as. appearing; on the sign.

lit will be apparent that to write a longitudinal bar on the sign, it isGilly necessary to move lingeror suitable object across the face of theplate to successively engage and move all the members 30 which aredisposedalong the line traversed by the linger or object. To Writevertical lines, such as the first vertical bar of the H, two shuttersare actuated at a time on a heri- Zont'a l line, then the two shuttersint 1ediately under are opened, and so on until the verticalbar iswritten.

It will be apparent now tl rat my improved changeable sign is conduciveto speed in setting; up a letter, word, or complete sentence. Toobliterate or; erase a letter, word, or all the words occurring on thesign, a few deft sweeping motions the hand across the face of the willserve to move all shutters into closed position even more rapidly than alegend of the same 1 portions could be erased from blackboard, forinstance. Many changeablesi'gns, having movable closures or shutters arepr vided With circular, or substantially circular openings and a linealformation of such openings does not give the required appearance. In myimproved sign just described, each group of openings, is substantiallyrectangular in outline and a lineal formation of groups lends theappearance of a substantially complete bar; particularly when electriclamps (not shown) are suitably disposed behind the plates.

In the slightly modified construction shown in Figs. i and 5, a group ofopenings comprises only two segmental or substantially triangularopenings having their major axis on a common vertical median line andhaving their side margins converging toward the central pivot member. Inothc' words, this en'ibodiment difl'ers from the embodiment firstdescribed principally in that the two smaller openings of a group areomitted, A further difference is, that instead of employing one shutterfor controlling several openings I employ one shutter of each opening.The construction permits of two shutters being disposed on a commonpivot member. ()ne advantageof the embodiments shown in Figs. l and 5,is that an opening coming at the extreme corner of a letter may remainclosed, with the other openings of a set open, so that letters orcorners of letters may appear less sharp.

In Fig. 6 the openings are not arranged in groups. I employ a pluralityof openings all similarly disposed, and for each opening an individualshutter is provided, as well an individual pivot member. Both of thesigns shown in Figs. l and 5, as well as the sign shown in Fig. 6 may beset up with practically the same ease with which the first describedembodiment is operated.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, I provide a singleplate e0, provided with a plurality of groups of openings ll, arrangedin groups of two. All openings in this embodiment are smaller and aresubstantially a frustrated segment in outline. Each of the pair ofopenings forming a group are diametrically opposed to each other on acommon vertical median line. Each opening is bounded by an arcuate topmargin 42, opposed converging side margins l3 and 4st, and a shortbottom margin 45. For each group of openings, a pivot pin 46 isprovided, mounted at the common cen ter toward which the side margins ofa pair of openings converge. Said common center is also the point aboutwhich the arcuate top margins are described. Between each pair ofopenings, an intermediate space 47 remains imperforate. The maximumtransverse or horizontal dimension of this space need not exceed, andshould closely approximate, the maximum height of one opening. Thus ashutter 48, pivoted on the pivot pin, for obscuring said openings, maybe moved so that a portion 48 is disposed behind the next intermediatespace. One salient feature of this embodiment is, that alternateshutters are disposed forwardly of the plate, while intermediateshutters are disposed rearwardly of the plate. It will be apparent,therefore, that when two adjacent shutters are moved to uncover twogroups or pairs of openings, a portion of one shutter will be behind theplate, while a portion of the adjacent shutter will be in substantiallythe same position but will be in front of the plate. In other words, theopenings may be more closely arranged than the previously describedembodiments because a portion of one shutter may be moved intosuperimposed relationship to a portion of another shutter.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown another embodiment in which portions orsections of shutter may be moved into superimposed relationship to otherportions or sections of the same or other shutters. In the embodimentshown in Figs. 9 and 10, I provide an opaque plate 50, having aplurality of rectangular openings 51, closely spaced. In fact, theintermediate imperforate space 52, existing between adjacent openings isof less width than the openings themselves. At the rear of the plate Iprovide channel members paralleling the top and bottom margins 53 of theopenings. For each opening I provide a plurality of shutter sections,such as 5% and 55. The space 56 provided by the channel is greater thanthe combined thickness of the shutter sections, and the sections areadapted to slide in the channels. It will be apparent that an openingmay be opened by moving the forward section of a shutter rearwardly. Theprojecting member will subsequently'engage the forward edge 57 of therear section of the shutter and thus both will be moved intosuperimposed relationship to each other behind anintermediateimperforate space.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the openings 60,are substantially frustra-segmental in form; the two side margins 61converging towards a common center. A salient feature of this form ofthe invention is, that alternate openings of a lineal formation arearranged with the frustrated end uppermost, while the other alternateopenings are arranged with their frustrated ends lowermost. Sucharrangement brings each side margin of each opening parallel with theadjacent side margin of the next opening. The space 62, which existsbetween openings is therefore a parallelogram. At the point at which theside margins converge, I provide the usual pivot member 63, upon which Imount two shutters, 64: and 65, capable of being moved into superimposedrelationship to each other; which shutters are also so arranged that oneshutter of one opening may be moved into superimposed relationship toone of the shutters of another opening. Fig. 11 shows two adjacentopenings opened. Shutter 64 of one opening is shown superimposed overshutter 65 of the next opening.

Considering the two shutters of one 1 rectan A all of shutters no.ongement which the sh" ers occupy in the intermediate areas, when inopen position is apparent from the draw One 7 m7 I f u .g: Q relctllel'll; ream e o tms ioiin o1 tie in- J ventin' is, that a linealformation 01 open ings enrol-eyed is substa tially solid and balanced,and in tact a l al formation of ning gives the erreet of a con'ipleteelongated bar interrupted only red oblique bars.

' i or that my lIlVG11 tio A f l n which is quickly operate l, plainlyread, and in which the openings gr arranged, to gr an increased pert ofopenings over the intermediate s and while I )flfito, have shown anddescribed specific embod ments of my invention, E do not limit myself toany specific construction or arrangement of parts, and may alter the corruotion and am'angen'ient o 3 occasionreqnires without enlar v or myinvention, within the claims.

claim,

1. in a sign, a plate provided with a plural'ty of OPGnlIV S arranged inline formations, the openf being spec d apart and the width of ear 1 e7greater th the width ozt space c a sectional shutter lip, he

ing its sections adapted to be moved into superimposed; relationship toeach other n to an adjacent intervening; space to uncover said opening.

2. in ot' the character described, a :tront plate provided with a plurnines arranged in line to hack plate provided with openi with. theope-11i IS in the tront plate, m

for holding said plates in lined spaced relation to each other, shuttersinte .21 1'. a r n I or siut p ates lot eon LO mg nediate i annularpro-jectioi i-s struol; out of one of said plates providing pivot pinsfor said shutters; the latter being osoillatable on said pivot points tobe movable to open and closed position.

8. In a sign of the character chsa'ihed a plate provided with closelyspaced o-penings separated by intermediate spaces, shut ters forcontrolling said openings movable to open or closed positions; saidshutters so arranged that a portion of one stutter may he moved intosuperimposed relationship to a portion of another adjacent shutter.

43. In a sign of the character descr' plate provided with closely spacedopen separated by intermediate spaces, shutters portion o-t anotheradjacent shutter and stops for limiting the advance and retrogrademovement of said shutters.

5. In a sign of the char-act r described, a plate provided with closelyspaced openings separated by intermediate spaces, shutters forcontrolling said openings movable to open and closed positions; saidshutters so arranged that portion oi? shutter may be moved intosuperimpt sed relationship to a portion. of another adjacent shatter,and stops for limiting the advance and retrograde movement of saidshutters; alternate shutters being disposed forwardly of the plate andintermediate shutters being disposed rearwardlv of the plate.

6. In a sign, aplate nrovid [d with segmental openings arranged inlineal formations with alternate openings inverted with regard tointermediate openings whereby each side margin of an opening is parallelwith the other side margin of the adjacent opening and wherebv theintervening spaces hetween openingsare parallelograms; the two sidemargins of each opening converging toward a common center, a pivotmember at substantially the point toward which the side marginsconverge, and two shutters pivoted to said member adapted to jointlycoaet toobseure the opening, and each forther' adapted to be moved intosuperimposed relationship to one of the shutters of an other opening,

RONYLAND N. CHUBB.

